W-P falls to winless Oscoda

Oscoda ends 21-game losing streak

By Brent BakerSunrise Sports

Posted
1/16/09

WHITTEMORE — The Oscoda girls’ basketball team never found a way to slow down Whittemore-Prescott center Cory Durham.

But with the Owls putting up more points than they have scored in years, it didn't matter. Oscoda's 65-54 victory over the Cards earned the Owls their first victory of the season and snapped a 21-game streak dating back to a one-point victory over Alcona in December 2006.

"It feels good to get a win," said Oscoda coach Chris Manick. "The two teams are about even. They have some good players -- Durham, and their guards (Cortney Bork and Ashley Tanner) -- but the girls played hard and hit their open shots."

The Owls led almost from the outset, building a 14-6 lead in the first quarter before a Bork 3-pointer and Tanner basket cut it to 14-11 at the end of the period.

Oscoda's press forced consecutive turnovers to start the second quarter, both leading to Ashley Scott baskets, and the Owls were off and running. Though they couldn't stop Durham in the paint -- she was 11-of-15 from the floor and had 15 rebounds -- Oscoda had plenty of scoring of its own.

Heather Patterson scored eight of her team-high 21 points in the second quarters as the Owls built a 32-23 lead at the half, and Abby Samotis added a career-high 19 points as Oscoda never led by less than five points in the second half.

"If you turn the ball over as much as we did, that's what's going to happen," said W-P coach Jeff Miller. "We'll watch the tape, come back tomorrow and work to keep getting better."